US President Donald Trump said Monday that Kim Jong Un had responded to his recent overtures, a day after he scaled back military drills with South Korea and praised his relationship with the North Korean leader.
Trump said he was making the situation “much safer” through his ties to Kim, whom he met three times in his first spell in the White House, but has yet to encounter during his second term.
“You see, I’m actually making it much safer. “I understand him. He understands me.
When pressed about whether Kim had actually responded, Trump said: “Yeah, he has. Asked what stage the conversations with Kim were at, Trump said “it’s very positive,” but provided no further detail. Kim Jong Un has always treated me with great respect,” Trump said. The top US Senate Democrat on military affairs slammed Trump’s order to downsize the Korean drills, and said China and Russia were “watching how easily this president abandons America’s allies”. “This is another inane, haphazard decision by President Trump and his chaotic administration,” Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed said.
